Tool carriage support and dust guard therefor



Oct. 28, 1952 c, P. GEsNE TOOL. CARRIAGE SUPPORT AND DUST GUARD THEREFORFiled May 27, 1947 Carleton R Gesner.

along the work. A

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 TOOL CARRIAGE SUPPORT AND GUARD THEREFOR O CE?nusr Carleton 1P. Gesnerf'New Haven, Conn. Application May2'7, 1947,Serial No; 750,777-

10' Claims. (01', ans- 35) Thisinvention relates to supportsfor toolc'ar- I riages and dust guards therefor and more particularly to a toolcarriage supporting arm adapted to have the tool carriage reciprocatedin re,-

speot thereto and a dust guard, actuated by move- A The features andprinciples of this invention p arehparticularly adapted for association"with a woodworking machine of the type knownas radial saws and in thestructure of which. an arm extends outwardly from a columnover a worktable is adapted to reciproand in which 'a tool carriage cate in thearm, to guide a tool, such as a circular saw, carried bynthe carriage,across and form of machine to which the features and principles of thisinvention are particularly and usefully applicable isfshownin mycopending application Serial No. 712,275, filed November 26, 1946, .nowPatent'No. 2,584,863, issued February 5, 1952. 1

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved form ofcarriage for a machine of the type known as radial saws.

Another object is to provide an improved form of tool carriagesupporting arm for a machine of the above type.

Still another object wherein dust, or the erable parts thereof, suitablemeans automatically movable into and out of position to cover such is toprovide, in a machine operable parts upon movement of said parts duringtheir operation.

A further object is topr'ovide in radial saw like, is apt'to settle onop- I naled to atoolsupporting carriage havinga tool supporting carriagemovable in a supporting arm a guard movable with the carriage toefficiently cover the cooperating operable parts of the carriage andarm.

A still further object is to providean improved tool carriage supportand dust guard therefor, which will be relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, simple in construction, compact, andrvery 'efiicient anddurable in use.

With these and other objects in view', which will appear as thedescription proceeds, there has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, one form of machine inrwhich the features and principles ofthis invention'maybe conveniently and pr'actically embodied.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view f a tool carriage supporting arm of a radial sawin the structureof out the-several views denotes a vertically disposedcylinder extending aupwardlyfrom a-base (not shown) of a radial "saw; of*the has-a slot I 4 inguthe greater part of its length its outer endbeing closed by aremovable cap l5.

edge-of the slot riage; t

Figure 3 is a Figure 2;

side view of the partes shown in Figure l is; a broken sectional viewtaken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; I n

Figureb is a broken sectional view takenon 1 the line 5-5 of i Fi ra andv Figured is a sectional view aken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5. I I

Refer-ring now to the drawings wherein} like reference numeralsdesignate like parts throughthe reference numeral l I type shown in theabbvereferredto and in-which a. column 12 .may be application,

raised, or lowered. Extending horizontally outwardlyfrom the column 12isanarm 13 which formed initsunderside and extend- Flat strips lfi and;I1 one along each lower side extend lengthwise of the arm l6 and 11extend towardeach l3. The strips other over'themouth ofthe slot I l andform tracks upon which pairs of rollers' l8"and i 9, spacedapartlengthwise of the arm J3 and jour- 2 I are adapted to ride andsupport the carriage2 1-, on the arm [3, A track 22intermediate thetracks, l6 and I1 and disposed lengthwise along theupper wallfldf theslot I lis adapted to be engaged by r'ollers 23 and 24 mounted forvertical adjustmenton the carriage 2l. 1he rollers 23 and 24 aredisposed one adjacenteach end of the carriageand arejournaled'inbrackets 25 slidablejin openings 26 in the: carriage 2|.Verticalfadjus'tmenh.of the brackets 25 and through them offtherollers23 I and 34 is accomplished by means ,of adjusting screws 21 screwthreaded through a; plate .28, fastened to the underside of thecarriage. i3, and engaging the lower end 29 of thebrackets 25 Therollers 23 and 24 aresubstantially identical in shape and h ave axiallyspaced apartfla'nged the tool carriage 2| will be guided in itsmovements along the arm I3 in the slot I4. The carriage 2| has a member31 depending therefrom through the slot I4 to which may be attached asupport 38 for a tool, such as a motor driven circular saw (not shown).The carriage 2| also has end portions 39 and 4I which depend through theslot I4. The carriage 2| may be manually moved lengthwise in the slot I4by means of a handle 42 secured to the member 31'. The member 31, inthis instance is circular in form and extends laterally beyond the slotI4, at each side thereof, with its upper surface disposed. below thetracks I6 and I1 and spaced slightly downwardly therefrom.

To substantially eliminate any dust, such as saw dust, formed when acircular saw is used as the tool to cut wood, flying up into the slotvI4 and settling on the rollers on the carriage, or upon the tracks uponwhich the rollers ride, a novel'- form of guard is provided by thisinvention. This guard comprises-'- a strip of material 43, preferablyoffabricsuch as cloth extending substantially from each end of the slotI4 to the carriage 2| and adapted to be drawn along: with and-bythecarriage as it is moved lengthwise of the arm I3. The strips 43 extendlaterally across the slot I4, underneath theundersurface of the tracksI6 and II, to close the opening between the opposing edges ofthe tracksI6 and I1; When the material of the-strips isfabric it is preferablethat it is selvaged along its lengthwise edges to prevent raveling, I I

The strips are-each, inthis instance, connected-'tothecarriage 2| byhaving an end of each riveted; or otherwise secured to a thin metallicplate 44' which'is forked, as at 48, to straddle the dependingcarriage-portions 39, or 411 By-this means theopposing ends- 46-and 41of the1strips43'may bebrought closely together at the. center of thecarriage 2I and abovethe upper surfaceof the member 31-. A- flange 48,bent upwardly from theplates 44 at eachsid'eand at'theendof'each-carriage portion39-and 4|, is providedby which-the plates 44 maybe secured to these portions as'by'serews'49.

Thercther-endof each strip 43 is secured to a miller 52; one of whichrollers isdisposed at each end of the arm' I3 and in the-slot I4thereof. In this instance the roller 52- at. the rear endioi the armI3is journaled-on'a shaft 53'extending through. and across the arm andthe roller 52" at the front end of the arm I3 is-journailed on ashaftr54extending through and across th'ecap I5. Each roller 52is springcontrolled'to constantlyurge it. to rotate to wind the' strip 43,secured thereto, upon its periphery, thus-malntainlng. the strips 43taut at all-times regardless of'the position of. the carriage M in thearm I3.

Theconstruction ofga preferred form-of roller ills-shown in Figuresand'6 wherein the'ends oflthe' strips 43 are riveted, or otherwisesecured to a metallic shelliihavinga wooden core 56 which isadaptedtorotateon therespectiveshaft UI-oril. In. this instance; only one-coiledflat mine 51 isiprovided for each'roller 52 and is housodiina.counterbore 58 formed inone end of the roller. A similar spring may behousedin a Similar. counterbore in the other end of the rollenifdesired, and. more tension is' required. One end of" the spring 51' is,secured, as by a rivet 5! to the metal shell 55 and'theother endisfastened. asby a rivet 8I' to the respective shaft 53 or. 542 1 Theshafts 53 and 54' are secured to the walls of the arm I3 and the cap I5respectively by screws 62, which extend through the respective adjacentwall and screw thread into the end of the respective shaft to draw thisshaft end into rigid contact with the wall. The other end of each shaftis fastened to the adjacent wall of the arm I3, or cap I5, by a screw 63which screw threads into the end 64 of said shafts and securely bottomsinzthe threaded holeprovided therefore. The end 64 of the shafts 53'and'54 is not rigidly clamped to the adjacent wall by the screw 63. Byloosening the shaft clamping screw 62 either-shaft 53or 54 may berotated by the screw 63- in respect to the roller journaled thereon,

while the roller 52 is held against rotation, to increase or decreasethe tension on the spring 51. The rotation of. the shaft 53 or 54 in thedirectionto, wind up the spring 51, while the roller 52 is stationary,will increase the spring tension.

From the above it is evident that the guard strips will; at'all-positions of the tool carriage in the arm; I3, completely cover theopen bottom'of' the slot, I4 and-prevent dust from enteringtheslotto-settle'on the rollers I8; I9; 23 and 24or on the'tracks It, I7"and 22- and'cause inconvenience and inaccuracies in the operation ofthe,tool carried 'by'the carriage II;

Tofurther insure that no dust enters the slot I4 in the arm I3 aguideway 65 forthestri'ps 43 has; been ,provided at each side of the amI3 andbel'ow the tracks I6 and Hi In the arrangement shown: in: thedrawings; the. strips 43 are much; wider than the distance, between theopposing edges: 01". the tracks I6 and I7. andihave each of their'side.edgesrdispcsed in the. guideway'65. The guideway; 66, maybe milled intothe opposing; edges of" the tracks. I6 and II, or may be as .shownpandpreferred; formed by a relatively thin fiat metallic bar' 86 of' thesame width. and; length as the tracks IG' and II with anal-row spacingbar. BI disposed along the outer edge of the tracks and'between the has;30 and the tracks,v to form the. opposing uideway, III. The bars66..and161' with the tracks I0 and. I!

are secured to the arm. I3 by screws 33:

By. the provision ofthe featuresand'principles of'this. invention a toolsupporting. carriage 2| movable in a lengthwise slot I4 in an arm I3 andadapted to-overhang tha'work willbe substantially-sealed; withinthe armand thus guarded againstlhaving dust from the operation of thetool'onthework settling andicausingjnaccuracies and inconveniences. Dueto the counter-action of'the springs 51 in the rollers 52 no appreciablyaddedpower is required to move the carriage ZIback and forth in the armI3; The'cooperating formof the rollers Hand-24 and the intermediatetrack 22- insures efficientguiding= of the carriage 2I- in and along thearm- I3; and the vertical adjusting screws, whereby all of the rollersmaybe maint'ainedi in propercontact with their respective tracks; arereadily accessible for actuation.

While there. has: been shmm; and; ducribed herein a preferredforzmofdevice in: whichzthe features: and principles of: this invention areembodied;v it, will: be understood that. the same may-be'embodiedinother specific forms: without departing fromithe-spirit and essentialattributes thereof, and vit is therefore desired. that thepresentembodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative, and notrestrictive rei'erence'being had to the claims rather than to theforegoing description to, indicate the scope of theinvention.

,Having thus any disclosed the invention, what is claimed as new and forwhich it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

upper surface of said tracks, a depending track in the slot of said arm,rollers on saidcarriage engaging said depending track, each of said lastmentioned rollers having a flat faced intermediate portion and endflanges with opposing outwardly and upwardly inclined faces, saiddepending trackhaving inclined converging side faces to engaginglycooperate with the inclined faces of said rollers to guide the carriagealong the first mentioned tracks.

2. In a tool carriage support, an arm having; a slot provided thereinsubstantially its entire length and open at the bottom surface of saidarm, a flat surfaced track on the bottom surface of said-arm at eachside of said slot, a carriage having flat faced side rollers adapted toride on the upper surface of said tracks, a depending track in the slotof said arm, rollers on said carriage engaging said depending track,each of said last mentioned rollers having a flat faced in-v termediateportion and end flanges with opposing outwardly and upwardly inclinedfaces, said depending track having inclined converging side faces toengagingly cooperate with the inclined faces of said rollers to guidethe carriage along the first mentioned tracks, a bracket supporting eachlast mentioned roller, and means extending upwardly through the carriageto vertically adjust said bracket.

3. In a tool carriage support in accordance with claim 1 and whereinmeans is provided to prevent dust from settling on said tracks androllers, said means comprising a strip of material secured to thecarriage and extending therefrom toward each end of the tracks, saidstrip of material extending across and underlyface of said tracks, eachof said tracks having a guideway associated therewith and extendinglengthwise thereof along the inner edge of the track adjacent itsundersurface, said guideways being in opposed relation, a strip offlexiblematerial extending from each end of said carriage toward an endof the tracks, said strip of material extending across the tracks with aside edge thereof in each guideway, and means at each end of the tracksto maintain the strip of material taut.

5. In combination, a pair of laterally spaced apart elongated flat facedtracks, a tool supporting carriage adapted to ride on, and bereciprocated along, the upper surface of said tracks, a thin bardisposed under and extending lengthwise along the undersurface of eachtrack, said bars being spaced downwardly from each track to formopposing guideways, a strip of flexible material extending from each endof said carriage ing the undersurface of the tracks, and a spring l,

toward an end'of the tracks,said strip of material extending across thetracks with a side edge thereof in each 'guideway, and means at eachendof the tracks to maintain the strip of material taut. 1 6. Incombination, an elongated arm adapted to-extend outwardly from asupporting column, saidfarm' having a slot thereinextendingsubstantially the entire length and open at the bottom surface and outerend thereof, a track disposed along the arm upon the lower surfacethereof 'at each side of the slot therein; a tool support- 1 ingcarriage adapted to ride on, andbe recipro cated alongj the uppersurface of said tracks, a cap closing the outer open end of .said' arm,a spring actuated roller mounted in the armadjacent its inner end, a,spring actuated roller mounted in said cap, and strips of flexiblematerial secured to therespective ends of said carriage and extendingbeneath the undersurface of said tracks and across the same, said stripsof material extending to and being attached to the respective rollers.

7. In combination, an elongated arm adapted I to extend outwardly from asupporting column,

said arm having a slot therein extending substantially the entire lengthand open at the botof said tracks and across the same, said strips ofmaterial extending to and being attached to the respective rollers, abar extending lengthwise along the undersurface of each track, said barsbeing spaced downwardly from each track to form opposing guideways, theedges of said-strips of flexible material riding in and along thespective rollers, each of said strips extending to the carriage andextending laterally across said tracks, one of said strips being unwoundfrom one of said rollers and the other being wound-upby the other ofsaid rollers as the carriage is moved along the tracks, and a guidewayalong the inner and opposing edges of said tracks to receive the sideedges of the strips and insure closure of the space between the tracks.

9. In asupport for a tool-supporting carriage, a pair of laterallyspaced tracks adapted to support a tool-supporting carriage to bereciprocated thereon, a pair of spring-actuated rollers,

oneof said rollers being disposed at one end of said tracks and theother being disposed at the other end of said tracks, each roller havinga counterbore, a spring disposed in the counter rotatablymounted, meansto-retain the shaft against rotation,.means to rotatethe shaft to'adjust the tensionof said spring, andt'two-strips of material-extendingunder saidtraoks. andsee cured to the respective rollers, each of,saidstrips extending to said carriage and-extendinglaterallyacrossrsaidtracks, one ofsaid. strips bein unwound from. meat saidrollersand theother being wound-up by the other of said rollers assaidcarriage is moved along said tracks.

10.- In a support for a tool-supportingcarriage, a substantiallyhorizontal and hollowarm', a-pair ottracks extending longitudinally. ofvsaid arm at the lower portion thereof, said arm-haying a lowerlongitudinal opening therein between saidti'ac-ks, said tracks beingadapted to. supporta tool-supporting carriage. extending into .saidopening for reciprocating movement on. saidltracksa strip of. materialsecured. to saidicarriage. and adapted to extend. along. said arm.below. said tracks to close said opening in the arm,,and means at. oneend of said arm to wind-up saidstrip when said carriage is moved towardsaidend'of the arm,

said means comprising a spring-aotuated roller iournaled at said. end ofthe arm' and' secured to said strip, said roller being disposed with thelower portion of its periphery above theundersurface. of said trackswhereby said strip of material is, drawn tightly against. theundersurface of said tracks as said strip is wound on said roller.

. CARLETON P. GESNER'.

REFERENCES CITED I Thefollowing referencesareof record in the file ofthis patent: 7

UNITED STATES PATENTS

